Post by red on Mar 16, 2006 7:19:19 GMT -8
Margrave steps down from Gold Line board
By Gene Maddaus Staff Writer
www.sgvtribune.com/news/ci_3606931
SOUTH PASADENA - Councilman David Margrave resigned from the Gold Line Construction Authority board on Wednesday night, ending an eight-month standoff with his own City Council.
Margrave also apologized to the city's staff, admitting that he had created a "hostile work environment" in the city planning department.
In addition, outgoing mayor Odom Stamps announced that Margrave would not seek re-election in March 2007.
Taken together, the announcements represented a career low for Margrave, who has been dogged by allegations of conflicts of interest since joining the council in March 2003.
Margrave and his wife own property in the ostrich farm at Pasadena Avenue and Monterey Road. They have plans to develop two senior housing projects on land straddling the Gold Line tracks.
Margrave maintained Wednesday night that he has no conflicts of interest, but said he will no longer participate in discussions of ostrich farm development issues.
"There is a perception of conflict," he said. "We live with perceptions, not facts."
Margrave's resignation from the Gold Line board appears to end a lengthy impasse regarding governance of the extension of the commuter rail line from east Pasadena to Montclair.
The council appointed Keith Hanks, a representative of the eastern San Gabriel Valley, to fill its seat on the board in July as part of a complex governance arrangement engineered by Rep Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena, and Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard.
Margrave refused to resign last summer, arguing that the rail line remained too noisy as it passed through South Pasadena,
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and vowing to stay on the board until the problem was fixed.
Margrave's resignation Wednesday clears the way for the eastern San Gabriel Valley cities to take majority control over the rail extension.
Margrave's apology to staff was the result of a six-week investigation into his conduct, performed by an outside firm. The city allocated $10,000 for the investigation last month.
Margrave has clashed recently with Planning Director David Watkins and Senior Planner Patrick Clarke over a 49-unit condominium project in the ostrich farm.
Watkins and Clark have maintained that the project, which abuts land owned by Margrave and his wife, is not permitted in the area. It is zoned as a business park.
In his apology, Margrave said he would abide by city code, which mandates that he direct all his concerns with city staffers to the city manager, and not take them up with the staff directly.
The circumstances of the investigation remained unclear Wednesday night because the city has not released the staff member's complaint or the investigative report.
By Gene Maddaus Staff Writer
www.sgvtribune.com/news/ci_3606931
SOUTH PASADENA - Councilman David Margrave resigned from the Gold Line Construction Authority board on Wednesday night, ending an eight-month standoff with his own City Council.
Margrave also apologized to the city's staff, admitting that he had created a "hostile work environment" in the city planning department.
In addition, outgoing mayor Odom Stamps announced that Margrave would not seek re-election in March 2007.
Taken together, the announcements represented a career low for Margrave, who has been dogged by allegations of conflicts of interest since joining the council in March 2003.
Margrave and his wife own property in the ostrich farm at Pasadena Avenue and Monterey Road. They have plans to develop two senior housing projects on land straddling the Gold Line tracks.
Margrave maintained Wednesday night that he has no conflicts of interest, but said he will no longer participate in discussions of ostrich farm development issues.
"There is a perception of conflict," he said. "We live with perceptions, not facts."
Margrave's resignation from the Gold Line board appears to end a lengthy impasse regarding governance of the extension of the commuter rail line from east Pasadena to Montclair.
The council appointed Keith Hanks, a representative of the eastern San Gabriel Valley, to fill its seat on the board in July as part of a complex governance arrangement engineered by Rep Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena, and Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard.
Margrave refused to resign last summer, arguing that the rail line remained too noisy as it passed through South Pasadena,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advertisement
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
and vowing to stay on the board until the problem was fixed.
Margrave's resignation Wednesday clears the way for the eastern San Gabriel Valley cities to take majority control over the rail extension.
Margrave's apology to staff was the result of a six-week investigation into his conduct, performed by an outside firm. The city allocated $10,000 for the investigation last month.
Margrave has clashed recently with Planning Director David Watkins and Senior Planner Patrick Clarke over a 49-unit condominium project in the ostrich farm.
Watkins and Clark have maintained that the project, which abuts land owned by Margrave and his wife, is not permitted in the area. It is zoned as a business park.
In his apology, Margrave said he would abide by city code, which mandates that he direct all his concerns with city staffers to the city manager, and not take them up with the staff directly.
The circumstances of the investigation remained unclear Wednesday night because the city has not released the staff member's complaint or the investigative report.